Psychology: Human Development — Elementary, BAE

Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

48-53 credits

Introduction/What is the Study of Psychology: Human Development - Elementary?

Psychology’s attempt to understand the human condition takes many approaches. Some psychologists study brain chemistry and its relation to behavior, while others study the behavior of individuals in groups. Still others are engaged in providing counseling or psychotherapy to people who are mentally ill or who are having difficulty in coping with the demands of life. With a faculty of over 30 women and men, all of whom hold a doctoral degree; the Department offers a program of study which provides a solid foundation in the general concepts and methods of Psychology, as well as courses and programs for students in many of the more specialized areas.

The program in Psychology: Human Development is designed to provide students in the Elementary Education program with an in-depth understanding of theory, research, and application in developmental psychology, and a sound background in general psychology. The program is designed to allow students flexibility in selecting psychology courses with the assistance of their advisor.

This major satisfies the academic major requirement for teacher certification with an endorsement in elementary education and must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in elementary education. See the Elementary Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

Why Consider a Psychology: Human Development - Elementary Major? 

Many of the major issues facing children and schools today – school readiness, achievement motivation, testing, classroom behavior, stereotyping, bullying, family and neighborhood stressors – are issues of human psychology. Psychology, as the scientific study of mind and behavior, will help provide answers to these problems, as well as contribute to the scientific understanding of how children best think and learn.

Contact Information

Department Chair Dr. Larry Symons Academic Instruction Center 440 360-650-3515 Larry.Symons@wwu.edu	Undergraduate Advisor Rebecca Goodvin Academic Instruction Center 496 360-650-3575 Rebecca.Goodvin@wwu.edu	Undergraduate Advisor Tina Du Rocher Schudlich Academic Instruction Center 476 360-650-7636 Tina.DuRocherSchudlich@wwu.edu
Elementary Education Professional Program Information Miller Hall 300 360-650-3336 http://www.wce.wwu.edu/ Depts/ELED	Teacher Education Admissions Miller Hall 214 360-650-3313 http://www.wce.wwu.edu/admiss	Elementary Education Professional Program Advisor and Program Manager Ellen Kreider Miller Hall 301D 360-650-7948 Ellen.Kreider@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

Elementary Teacher

Major/Career Resources

http://www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Pre-Major: To be eligible, students must have completed 15 credits in Psychology with a minimum of 5 credits at Western.

Admissions:

Contact the department to declare the major once you have completed the following requirements:

• Completed a total of at least 75 credits
• Successfully completed or be currently enrolled in PSY 301
• Achieved a Western Cumulative GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.70 or higher
• A GPA of 3.0 in all Psychology courses taken at Western, including PSY 301, may substitute for the cumulative GPA

Grade Requirements

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for courses in the elementary education professional program and all courses required for the endorsement.